The Beauty of learning a new language

6 years ago, I made one of the biggest decisions in my academic life. I was given a choice between Hindi and French. And I took the latter. It was one of the hardest decisions because our family has always had an unshakeable faith in our history, and our language and culture mean the most to us. But choosing French was the one of the best decisions I have ever made.

My journey with the language began at a rather low point, I had missed a year of French learning already, I was un-aware of the basics and couldn’t translate even a single sentence. Then began the parade of classes, textbooks, reference books, notes from previous students, and an entire month devoted to learning French alphabets, numbers and the fact that every object has a gender.

Needless to say I scored mediocre marks in French that year. It wasn’t really discouraging, I knew I just had to give it time. I believe that the most important part of learning any language is understanding its history and its culture, what truly made the language what it is today. When I started learning the language, I was ignorant of these other aspects, I believed my French education was entirely based on that one book that was set to us, which of course, wasn’t true at all. Two years into learning the language, my interest in the language grew, and I realized that that one book, simply wasn’t sufficient. I decided to start researching about French history. Most people are only aware of the revolution of 1789, the beheaded Queen Marie Antoinette and the new French anthem. It’s not quite well known that another French revolution took place in the 1848, with the exiled French king fleeing to Britain for safety. France is not only rooted in a history of royalty and revolution, it is rooted in renaissance and change. The beauty is not only in its language, but also in its paintings, in its architecture and of course in its food.

I also read a lot about French paintings throughout history such as the masterpiece that is ‘Liberty Leading the People’ and the contemporary piece- ‘La Danse’. I also took a great liking to French music, with some of my favorites being ‘La vie en rose’ and ‘Soleil Soleil’. Another point I’d like to highlight here is that listening to French songs is INCREDIBLY useful, once you like a song, you usually tend to remember its lyrics and understand its meanings, believe me this is like a cheat sheet for essays. Understanding the essence of the country helped me relate to it while reading comprehensions, writing essays, participate better in classroom discussions and just increase my knowledge overall.

Learning a language goes further from just books and writing, to learn a language, you need to hear it, you need to understand it, you need to research and delve in the depths of its roots, where it all began. My six years of learning French have been absolutely amazing, and it is now my dream to go to a small French village, talk to the locals, eat French food, and of course write about it.

This the beauty of learning a new language, once you engulf yourself in it, it truly becomes a part of you.

The AmbuLife Initiative

The AmbuLife initiative is an idea, formulated by the students of Indus International School. We had one aim- Support the struggle of the unfortunate and the underprivileged against the grasp of the pandemic. And, I must say that this initiative has given me a path, it has given me that much wanted feeling of being able to help

AmbuLife aims to raise funds to donate an ambulance to a local hospital… We are approaching to the end of our fundraiser, with only 2 more days left, we still need to collect about 1 lakh 50 thousand more to afford the ambulance that we aim to buy… Our idea is one of purpose, fueled with experiences and I know that we will be able to help many, with your support, through AmbuLife

 Please help us in our endeavor and support us in our cause! Link to donate is given below… Thank you so much for your support, I really appreciate it! ❤

https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/ananyaagroyaforambulifeyte5m

AmbuLife

“Racing against time to save lives”

The unprecedented rise in cases during the second wave of Covid 19 has brought the healthcare infrastructure of India on its knees. Over the past few months, with the new wave of Covid came new heart-wrenching stories of loss.

 To support the unfortunate during these tough times, as a part of our CAS fundraiser we are aiming at providing aid to the rural Covid affected areas. The basic aim is to ensure that the number of fatalities caused by the delay or lack of ambulances in the locality are reduced.

 It is my greatest privilege to be a part of this initiative and I would be very grateful if you would take some time to answer a small survey that we are conducting. Thank you so much for your help!

AmbuLife – “Racing against time to save lives” (google.com)

(Please do mention in the comments if you’ve filled the survey, It would be a great help! <3)

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Goodbye tenth grade!!

We were all in bed yesterday, when mom came into my room, dancing… We asked her what on earth was the matter… Mom told us that they have finally taken a decision, a REAL decision! They cancelled the exams entirely!

 I am so happy that CISCE FINALLY took a solid decision, and we laughed about the fact that mere hours ago, I had published a blog post as a plea to CISCE! After 14 months, I feel relieved and so ecstatic, I’m sure I’m not the only one! Though I am now eagerly waiting for their “fair and unbiased criterion”, that will hopefully satisfy all!

 I congratulate ALL of the CISCE 10^th grade students who are now officially DONE with tenth grade, and to all of their family, who of course have been as concerned and tired as we have been… And I wish the very best of luck to the ISC 12^th graders too!!

Thank you!

A plea to CISCE…

It was a pleasant evening on the 16^th of April 2021, when I opened up WhatsApp and was treated to a bombarding of messages from the several class and school groups that I have, along with personal messages from friends and family. As I opened one of the messages that revealed a single screenshot titled – “PRESS RELEASE”.

Here it was, we had been waiting for this release for weeks and were even more on the edge since CBSE had cancelled 10^th board, 2 days earlier. I had been praying that CISCE does something, just something. Cancel them, postpone them I wouldn’t mind either. It had been 14 months since tenth grade started and all of us had quite enough. I told my mother that I don’t even want a vacation, if they want to make us study, make us study something new, I was tired of turning through the same pages over and over again…

The press release had three paragraphs, three of the most confusing paragraphs I have ever read… The first paragraph stated that we were “deferred” from the exams that were originally to be held from May 4^th. The second para stated that exams were postponed until CISCE takes their decision by the first week of June.

And the third para, allowed us to cancel our own exams, if we wished to, and that our marks will be based on a “fair and unbiased criterion”, a criterion that they didn’t even give us. (not yet at least).

Many might think we are impatient, even imposing, however, what would you do if you had to study for long hours every day for 14 months for an exam that may never come?  This decision was democratic, yet torturing. CISCE has put everything on hold, either not realizing or ignoring the fact that their students will have to study more, at least until the criterion or their “later decision” comes out.

While the decision, is entirely in the hands of the board, it would be a blessing if they would kindly consider the mental, physical and emotional state of their students who have been cooped up learning textbooks, both eager and frightened of what is to come.

It is my gentle plea, on behalf of all tenth grade CISCE students, that CISCE takes their clear decision. Life has given us so much uncertainty in this past year, if, at least, CISCE could remove some of that uncertainty; we would be most thankful.

 I believe, we deserve this much of relief. I sincerely request CISCE to hasten their decision- making process, and also consider the fact that giving exams after or during June, sound quite far-off

If CISCE could just tell us, point-blank, whether or not we are to give our exams, we would at least be able to remove the uncertainty that they have given us, from our minds and focus on what is ahead, because it is either the tenth board exams or eleventh grade. I would also request them to consider that we have eleventh grade starting in a month or two too…

This is a decision we cannot take ourselves; it does not lie in our hands… I request CISCE to take the decision as quickly as possible… And perhaps alleviate all of us from the pressure and exhaustion that we are now facing.

It is my most sincere wish… Thank you.

As always, I would like to add in a quote of mine-

“Our dreams are always certain, because our life never is…”

-Ananya Agroya

Acceptance

I have always found that discussions on the different meanings of the same word are very controversial, everyone has a different view on it. Today, I am going to be talking about my views on this very important word- Acceptance.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Acceptance as – “the quality or state of being accepted or acceptable”. Not very helpful is it? 😊

However, to me Acceptance means a gift that humans have naturally received, a gift that allows them to accept their surroundings, whether good or bad, and adapt to them…

“The universe constantly requires us to accept something, because only then, can we be introduced to something newer and perhaps better for us” (I can’t believe I just thought up this line). This Pandemic and Lockdown situation, has made it all the more necessary for us, to accept a few things and adapt to them.

There are a lot of things that I myself have had to accept in the past few months. I have had to accept that my very last year in the school I have been in for the last five years, will be almost completely online. With the Covid 19 still on the status of “Full speed ahead!”, schools will probably have to wait a while to open up. With four valuable months of our last year, already gone while looking at one screen, even we have accepted the fact that this IS how it’s going to be for now. Even if schools do start, everything will not magically become normal again, and all we can do is accept it and move on.

We have had to accept the fact that there will mostly be no farewell for the 2005 batch of the tenth graders, we have had to accept the fact that seeing our friends again is a faraway thought, we have had to accept the fact that all those parties and get – togethers are not going to be happening for a while. But you know what? It’s ok, because we have adapted to it.

It is ok to struggle for something but at some particular point of time, we have to accept the truth. I would like to talk about my brother at this point, kids are said to be the most accepting people. They accept things really fast. My brother did crib over not being able to see his friend, or play football, or go to the play-areas in malls. But in less than a month, he accepted it, he told his best friend “ No, we can’t play together right now, the Coronavirus is still here and it is dangerous, we can’t play” What is surprising is that, it took me so long to accept it, to accept that this is how things are going to be for a while, but a seven year old boy took lesser time? By birth, we are very accepting, however it is our societal and mental blocks that stop us from accepting.

We can only thrive if we accept. Because when we accept, we also adapt to a new situation. It makes us stronger. It is what we all have accepted, what we all have adapted to, that has made us who we all are today, at least that is something we can all accept… Right? 😊

“The universe constantly requires us to accept something, because only then, can we be introduced to something newer and perhaps better for us” – Ananya Agroya

 PS- And, after a long time, this blog has a quote by Ananya Agroya 😊

On the mark, get set, and ???

I had a really weird wish, I have always been a very big lover of history, and I’ve always had this one dream. I wanted to experience ONE thing that would be recorded in history, an event whose stories would pass down for centuries ahead. Well, god fulfilled my wish in the worst way possible 😊.

Coronavirus, this man slaughtering, happiness eating disease. Many men have tried to spread their influence all round this world, however, none really succeeded. This virus did something that man, the greatest, most advanced and most developed creature in this world couldn’t do.

The virus has plagued our world with fear, sickness and death. This unstoppable disease, stopped many from achieving their dreams.

It has changed this Earth in so many ways. All around, everywhere, masked people keep asking each other a futile question- “When will it go?”.

On 24^th of March, when our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced a complete lockdown for 21 days, we knew that this was a bigger deal than we had thought of. But in a time like this, I was more upset about one fact.

Here I was so ready and excited for tenth grade, for boards and for “disciplined” studying. I had started such an important part of my life… But Coronavirus changed it all. If I could frame my sadness in one sentence, it would be like this-

As soon as I had said, “On your mark, get set …. ” I had to say  “STOP “.

This virus stepped into my track, and not only mine, but also the track of those 10th and 12^th graders, who were about to live their dreams, but had to delay them.

Here is what I’ve experienced during these testing times –

Let me start from the very beginning. During the middle of March (about 15^th or 16^th), when Pune’s reported cases, just kept going higher and higher. Our school closed, and my parents started taking many precautions. I was allowed to go outside, but only with a big bottle of sanitizer and a mask.

My dad (being the cautious father he is) insisted on a strict no chocolate rule, and every half an hour, I had to drink a glass of warm water, to keep my immunity up. This is the time when I realized, how petty a common man’s attempts are, to fend off a pandemic.

On 20^th, when our Prime Minister gave his first speech announcing the Janta Curfew, we decided that we would leave for my grandparents’ place in Bhopal, since it was relatively safer than Pune, and the very next morning, we set off for our 12-hour long ride. We realized that we were just in time, because, all state borders closed, the morning after we reached Bhopal.

On 22^nd we all banged our plates and clapped our hands from the balcony of my grandparent’s house, for all those brave souls, who without thinking of what such an exposure could do to them, carry on with their work every single day. Every doctor and nurse are risking their lives to make sure that the future of our country and our families remain safe. I truly admire their courage, commitment and fortitude during a time like this.

I have been reading many articles on what people are doing while sitting at home. And now that we all are “house arrested”, I decided that I might as well do something that I’ve been putting off for a while. And blogging was the best idea.

Let me tell you a couple of things I ‘ve been doing at home-

•   Studying

It’s completely important considering the fact that this is tenth grade and revision is necessary. So, for most of my day, I am immersed in Economics, Geography, Math and French. (When I first opened my books here in Bhopal, my brother looked at me with an expression of disbelief and said- “We’re on vacation Didi!”)

• Reading

My kindle is my constant companion and my immediate relief after studying. Rereading series feels awesome after writing 6 pages on Demand and Supply.

• Playing Carrom

We play at least one game of carrom every night. My grandfather, who is known for is carrom skills, insisted on tutoring us in carrom. I think he just couldn’t bear the fact that his grand children were such failures in the game, while he was quite the opposite.

• Watching Ramayana and Mahabharata

When my grand-parents learnt that my brother and I did not know who Sugriva and Marij were, they make us watch Mahabharata at 9am in the morning and 7pm in the evening, and Ramayana at 12 pm in the afternoon and 9pm at night, every single day. At first, I resisted, preferring to watch a Netflix series, but once we had started, the entire family was hung onto it. I must say, the history and heritage of our nation is one of the finest in the world.

5) Evening tea

We have tea in the balcony every evening after my afternoon online                       classes finished. We laugh on my brother’s innocent statements, and try to determinedly win the game of Housie we play after tea, even though Housie is completely based on luck.

We always put on my grand-father’s radio to hear the news over breakfast. So, every morning we grimly listen to the Coronavirus precautions that we are announced over it.

I must say, I am immensely impressed by our Prime Minister’s efforts to control this virus in India. Handling a country, obviously must not be easy, and he is doing it in a brilliant way. He is working so hard to make sure that all the citizens of India stay safe, it is truly commendable. He is increasing the courage, confidence and hope of all. I am completely sure that his decision of a 21 -day lockdown will help our nation in the best way possible. I truly salute Narendra Modi.

I am glad that we are all safe and isolated, I have never stayed just at home for more than three days, not even during exams, this is a different experience altogether.

However, I must say, this was one of the greatest vacations I have ever had, because, right now, we have nothing to do alone, so we have to do everything together.

If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that the statement- “On your mark.. Get set…”, doesn’t always end with “GO”. Sometimes even the run of life needs to slow down. So now we should learn to say, “On your mark.. Get set… Think”, “On your mark.. Get set… Take your time”, “On your mark.. Get set… Retrospect” , or it can be as simple as- “On your mark.. Get set… Do what you love “.

Please stay safe and stay home. Let’s fight this pandemic together.